The health and fitness field offers many career opportunities. Individuals interested in helping others maintain their physical well-being may pursue degree and certification programs in their field of interest. Read on to learn about what it takes to work in the health and fitness industry.

Inside Health and Fitness

If you're interested in the physical well-being of yourself and others, you may consider an education in health and fitness. Degree and certification programs are available in fields such as nutrition, athletic training, physical therapy or fitness.This training can lead to careers as nutritionists, fitness trainers, personal trainers, aerobics instructors or coaches, among others. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), individuals in this field must be outgoing, in good health, organized, have good communication skills and be able to motivate others (www.bls.gov). To further explore education and professional options in health and fitness, take a look at the following Study.com articles.

Education Information

Depending on your interest, you can undertake a certificate, associate's, bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree program. Your coursework may include human anatomy and physiology, business concepts, exercise principles, personal fitness, nutrition and fitness planning. Visit the links below to get additional information on degree options in health and fitness.

Distance Learning Options

Distance learning programs are available at many levels of study within health and fitness. Some courses and programs available online include fitness instructor, exercise and holistic wellness. Below are some options.

Career Options

If you're interested in improving public nutrition standards, helping people get fit after an injury or just improving a person's overall wellness, a career in health and fitness may be right for you. These jobs include athletic trainer, physical therapy assistant and nutritionist.

Certification Options

Some careers require that you obtain a professional credential after completing a degree program. Obtaining certification or licensure is particularly important for athletic trainers and physical therapists. The following articles cover some of these credentialing options.

Employment Information

The BLS stated the overall employment of fitness trainers is expected to grow by 13% between 2012 and 2022, which is comparable to the national average of 11% for all occupations. Recreation workers should see a growth of 14%, athletic trainers 19% and nutritionists 21%. The anticipated growth is due to aging populations and to an increased emphasis on fitness in society.

As of May 2013, fitness trainers earned a mean annual salary of $37,790, while recreation workers earned $25,560. Athletic trainers made $44,720 a year on average, while nutritionists averaged $56,300 annually, according to the BLS.